The Story of Young Goodman Brown

             "Young Goodman Brown," is a story that is rich in metaphors that ultimately question the very morals and ethics of his religious society. In the story, Goodman Brown is a proud Puritan who meets with the devil that causes him to become aware of the society he lives in. The story about Goodman Brown centers on a proud man who thinks that a meeting with the devil can't alter his faith in religion. He also desires to find more about his inner domains, but eventually finds out how hypocritical his community is.
             The story's crux is based upon religious metaphors of Hawthorne's town of Salem during their religious conflict. The beginning of the story mentions the Goodman's wife, Faith who has a double meaning to her name. Goodman's name also should not be overlooked because it is a double-edged sword as well. Hawthorne plays with Faith's name in that it symbolizes religious faith. Faith, Goodman's wife- is seen as a pious woman who like Goodman, is deep into her religious beliefs. She is innocent like her religion. To indicate Faith's innocence, Hawthorne gave her pink ribbons to wear. These ribbons are important, because they expose Faith's character. Pink is seen as a pleasant color that promotes no tension. Pink is not as violent as red, or gloomy as black. In addition, there is "Goodman." His name represents what his society thought of him. He was a religious good person, who came from a long linage of prominent Puritans.
             "Young Goodman Brown" begins when Faith, Brown's wife, pleads with him not to go on his "errand." Goodman Brown says to his wife: " My love and my Faith, of all nights in the year, this one night I must tarry away from thee." When he says his "love" and his "Faith," he is talking to his wife, but he is also talking to his faith in God. He is venturing into the woods to meet with the devil, and by doing so he leaves his unquestionable faith in God with his wife. He resolves that he will "cling to her skirts and fol...

More Essays:

APA     MLA     Chicago
The Story of Young Goodman Brown. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 12:45, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/21369.html